Frisco

With great surf fishing, charter boat docks, and plenty of nearby activities close at hand, Frisco makes a strong home base for an Outer Banks vacation.

Set beside Buxton, Frisco has the feel of Hatteras Island from before generations of travelers found it. Small, peaceful, and a little tucked away, the village gives visitors a sense of retreat while keeping Buxton and Hatteras Village restaurants, groceries, and things to do conveniently nearby.

Frisco received its name in 1898, after a post office opened and the earlier names Trent and Trent Woods were turned down. Trent Woods fit the setting because the village is thick with trees, but the new postmaster had another idea. A few years earlier, he had come ashore after a shipwreck offshore, and his wandering spirit led him to choose a name inspired by one of his favorite cities: San Francisco. Since San Francisco was already in the postal system, the shortened name Frisco was adopted.

During the Trent Woods era, Frisco provided lumber for Buxton’s boat building work. Local families also earned income by selling firewood, seaweed, and Yaupon Tea, a drink made from a Holly family plant that was popular during the Revolutionary War. These days, Frisco centers on tourism. Frisco Woods Campground, with wooden cabins, tent sites, and RV hookups along Pamlico Sound, draws many visitors. So does the National Parks Service campground on the Atlantic Ocean side of the island, along with ORV ramps near the Lighthouse. Fishing, surfing, and long beach days are favorite ways to spend time here. Visitors can also ride horses along the shoreline or enjoy kitesurfing, paddleboarding, and fishing in the Sound, especially around Sandy Bay between Frisco and Hatteras Village.

Frisco Woods camping has plenty of appeal, though many travelers choose vacation homes instead. Options run from modest, charming cottages to multi-level contemporary rentals built for more than one family. Frisco has a small selection of restaurants, including The Gingerbread House Bakery & Pizza, one of several places that says it serves The Island’s Best Pizza. Vacationers can easily stay close by for some meals, but anyone spending more than a few days here will likely dine in a neighboring village, too.

At the Frisco Native American and Natural History Museum, visitors can explore the history of Hatteras Island, perhaps uncover hints connected to the fate of The Lost Colony of Roanoke Island, and learn more about the area before English settlers arrived. A small group of art galleries offers a present-day view of Frisco and Hatteras Island life, along with the opportunity to bring home a genuinely one-of-a-kind reminder of the trip.

Discover More Around Frisco

Places To Stay

Where you stay in OBX shapes the overall OBX experience just as much as the activities you choose while you are there. The range of accommodations is broad.

Restaurants

With many dining choices across Hatteras Island, finding good food nearby is easy wherever your plans take you.

More Hatteras Island Villages

• Hatteras
• Buxton
• Avon
• Salvo
• Waves